2011 in Scotland

none January 2016 July 2026 2011 Events from the year 2011 in Scotland. Incumbents Politics of Scotland Order of precedence in Scotland First Minister and Keeper of the Great Seal – Alex Salmond Secretary of State for Scotland – Michael Moore Law officers Lord Advocate – Elish Angiolini; then Frank Mulholland Solicitor General for Scotland – Frank Mulholland; then Lesley Thomson Advocate General for Scotland – Lord Wallace of Tankerness Judiciary Lord President of the Court of Session and Lord Justice General – Lord Hamilton Lord Justice Clerk – Lord Gill Chairman of the Scottish Land Court – Lord McGhie Events January 1 January The United Nations is to examine claims of ownership of the Scottish island of Rockall, after a request from Denmark, which has sovereignty over the neighbouring Faroes.http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/217918-un-to-consider-ownership-of-tiny-scots-isle/ UN to consider ownership of tiny 'Scots' isle 1 January 2011 STV 3 January 2011http://www.heraldscotland.com:80/news/politics/un-enters-dispute-over-rockall-ownership-1.1077473 The United Nations is to examine the ownership of the remote islet of Rockall in the Western Isles within weeks after Denmark staked a claim to it. Morris Bridget 2 January 2011 The Herald 3 January 2011 Glasgow A soldier serving with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders is killed in an explosion near to the Nahr-e Saraj district of Helmand Province, in Afghanistan.http://www.heraldscotland.com:80/news/home-news/explosion-kills-scots-regiment-soldier-in-helmand-1.1077572 Explosion kills Scots regiment soldier in Helmand McArdle Helen 3 January 2011 The Herald 3 January 2011 Glasgow Approximately 140 people take part in the annual Loony Dook in the Firth of Forth, at South Queensferry.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-12104501 In pictures: Loony Dook 2011 2 January 2011 BBC News Scotland 3 January 2011 2 January At the Old Firm game, Rangers and Celtic, represented by John Greig and Billy McNeill respectively, pay their respects to the 66 victims of the 1971 Ibrox disaster.http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Dignity-prevails-as-Old-Firm.6677702.jp Dignity prevails as Old Firm pay homage to disaster victim Pattullo Alan 3 January 2011 The Scotsman Johnston Press Digital Publishing 3 January 2011 Edinburgh The Montenegrin Embassy in London writes to Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray, correcting factual inaccuracies and asking him to explain comments he made during First Minister's Questions in December 2010, about the country being involved in "war crimes", "ethnic cleansing" and "a United Nations peace-keeping mission".http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/220688/Montenegro-fury-over-Gray-s-claims-of-ethnic-cleansing/ Montenegro fury over Gray's claims of ethnic cleansing 2 January 2011 Sunday Express 3 January 2011 Londonhttp://www.heraldscotland.com:80/news/politics/diplomatic-fury-after-labour-leader-s-ethnic-cleansing-jibe-1.1077459 Diplomatic fury after Labour leader's ethnic cleansing jibe Hutcheon Paul 2 January 2011 Sunday Herald 3 January 2011 Glasgow The publishers of the Sunday Herald newspaper announce that it is to be relaunched as a weekly news magazine.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-12104503 Sunday Herald newspaper to be relaunched as magazine McIvor Jamie 2 January 2011 BBC News Scotland 3 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110106085645/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-12104503 6 January 2011 live 3 January – Gary Anderson is the runner-up at the World Darts Championship.http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/darts/9333712.stm Adrian Lewis beats Gary Anderson to win first PDC title 3 January 2011 BBC Sport 4 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110104050953/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/darts/9333712.stm 4 January 2011 live 5 January The Rosyth – Zeebrugge ferry service, the country's only direct ro-ro ferry route to mainland Europe, re-opens as a freight-only service.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12113301 Freight ferry service from Rosyth to Zeebrugge reopens 5 January 2011 BBC News Scotland 5 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110105090210/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-12113301 5 January 2011 live A rare Eurasian bittern (Botaurus stellaris), which last bred in the country c. 1830, is sighted at RSPB Scotland's Insh Marshes nature reserve in Strathspey.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12122582 Latest sighting of rare bittern at Insh Marshes 5 January 2011 BBC News Scotland 5 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110106085535/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12122582 6 January 2011 live 18 January – The installation of replicas of the 37 Stirling Heads is completed at the King's Inner Hall at Stirling Castle. 23 January – An earthquake measuring 3.5 magnitude is recorded at Glenuig, 25 miles (40 km) west of Fort William. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12262293 Earthquake hits west of Scotland BBC BBC News 23 January 2011 23 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110125223735/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-12262293 25 January 2011 live 25 January – Andy Gray is dismissed from Sky Sports for sexist comments.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12279233 Sky Sports sack football pundit Andy Gray for his sexist comments 2011-01-25 BBC News 2011-01-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20110126014457/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12279233 26 January 2011 live 26 January – Tommy Sheridan is sentenced to three years in prison for lying on oath during the Sheridan v News International case in 2006.https://www.theguardian.com/politics/video/2011/jan/26/tommy-sheridan-sentenced-three-years-video Tommy Sheridan sentenced to three years in prison 26 January 2011 The Guardian 26 January 2011 27 January – The Scotland Bill receives an unopposed second reading in the House of Commons, with the Secretary of State for Scotland Michael Moore describing the legislation as the largest transfer of fiscal powers from central Government since the creation of the United Kingdom.http://breakingnews.heraldscotland.com/breaking-news/?mode=article&site=hs&id=N0403941296156340260A Commons clears transfer of powers 28 January 2011 The Herald 28 January 2011 27 January – A Tornado GR4 jet from RAF Lossiemouth ditches in Loch Ewe, with the 2 crew ejecting shortly before the crash.http://news.stv.tv/scotland/highlands-islands/223943-two-ejected-after-military-jet-crash/ Military jet crashes: Two crew rescued McCallum Shiona 27 January 2011 STV 28 January 2011 29 January – A climber survives after falling 1000 feet from Sgurr Choinnich Mor, part of the Grey Corries range in Lochaber.https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/climber-fell-1000-feet-off-mountain-ndash-then-walked-away-2198562.html https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220501/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/climber-fell-1000-feet-off-mountain-ndash-then-walked-away-2198562.html 1 May 2022 subscription Climber fell 1,000 feet off mountain – then walked away Osley Richard 30 January 2011 The Independent 30 January 2011 February 1 February – The University of the Highlands and Islands is granted full university status. 10 February – Former Labour MP Jim Devine is convicted of two counts of fraud for falsely claiming £8,385 in expenses. Devine is the first MP to stand trial in the United Kingdom parliamentary expenses scandal and is later sentenced to 16 months imprisonment.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12403945 Former MP Jim Devine guilty over expenses BBC News 10 February 2011 March 27 March – 2011 United Kingdom Census is taken. The Scottish population stands at 5,295,403, the country's highest ever to this point. For the first time, a census question is asked about proficiency in the Scots language. April 1 April – Prescription charges abolished in Scotland.Prescription charges abolished in Scotland https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12928485 BBC News Scotland 2011-04-01 2011-04-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20110401040446/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-12928485 1 April 2011 live May 5 May – Elections are held for the Scottish Parliament together with the referendum on whether to adopt the Alternative Vote electoral system for elections to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-13290372 UK elections: Who is voting where today? Graham Satchell BBC BBC News 5 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110506100120/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13290372 6 May 2011 live 6 May The Scottish National Party secures an historic landslide election victory, winning an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament election. This is the first time that any party has secured a majority since devolution was established in 1999. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13305522 Scottish election: SNP wins election BBC BBC News 6 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110527030052/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13305522 27 May 2011 live Voters reject proposals to introduce the alternative voting system in the UK. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13297573 Vote 2011: UK rejects alternative vote BBC BBC News 7 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520031425/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-13297573 20 May 2011 live Scottish Labour Party leader Iain Gray announces his resignation after his party loses key seats in constituencies across Scotland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13312883 Scottish election: Labour leader Iain Gray to quit BBC BBC News 6 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110506221309/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-13312883 6 May 2011 live 7 May The Scottish National Party urges UK Prime Minister David Cameron to amend the Scotland Bill to give the Scottish Parliament greater legislative powers. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13321478 Scottish election: SNP press Cameron on Scotland Bill BBC BBC News 7 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520031347/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13321478 20 May 2011 live Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Tavish Scott resigns after a collapse of his party's support at the Scottish Parliament election. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-13321726 Scots Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott quits post Andrew Black BBC BBC News 7 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110520031343/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-13321726 20 May 2011 live 9 May – Scottish Conservative Party leader Annabel Goldie announces her intention to step down from the role after the Party's poor results at the recent Parliamentary election. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13340641 Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie announces resignation BBC BBC News 9 May 2011 27 May 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110510034306/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-13340641 10 May 2011 live June 19 June – It is revealed that former Makar, Edwin Morgan, left the SNP almost £1,000,000 in his will.http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics-news/2011/06/19/top-poet-edwin-morgan-stuns-snp-party-bosses-after-leaving-them-1m-fortune-86908-23211927/ Top poet Edwin Morgan stuns SNP party bosses after leaving them £1m fortune Daily Record 19 June 2011 4 December 2011 21 June – Riverside Museum in Glasgow opened to the public. July 1 July – The Labour Party's Iain McKenzie wins the Inverclyde by-election with a majority reduced from 14,416 in 2010 to 5,838. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13980594 Labour wins Inverclyde by-election with lower majority BBC BBC News 1 July 2011 1 July 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110701015307/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-13980594 1 July 2011 live 27 July – Hacktivist Topiary (Jake Davis) is arrested on Yell, Shetland. August 10 August – Police from Scotland are being sent to England to help combat riots and disorder. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14473068 England riots: Scottish police to aid disorder efforts BBC BBC News 10 August 2011 20 August 2011 31 August – Critics of the proposed £400,000,000 Aberdeen Bypass, who have already delayed the project since it won approval in December 2009, decide to press ahead with a fresh legal challenge after a recent appeal at the Court of Session was rejected.Aberdeen bypass set for renewed legal challenge BBC News, 31 August 2011 September 7 September – Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond unveils a legislative programme for the coming year which includes plans to create a single police force and a single fire service for Scotland. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-14804184 Scots ministers to reform police, jobs and alcohol laws BBC BBC News 7 September 2011 7 September 2011 21 September – Finance Secretary John Swinney announces his spending plans for the next three years in the context of cuts of more than £3,000,000,000 in funding from the UK Government. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15012499 Scottish budget breakdown BBC BBC News 21 September 2011 22 September 2011 October 12 October – Insurance companies fail in a legal bid to scrap the right of people in Scotland to claim damages for an asbestos-related condition that had been legislated for by the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) (Scotland) Act 2009. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15264262 Supreme Court backs asbestos compensation law BBC BBC News 12 October 2011 12 October 2011 13 October – BP has been given the go-ahead to proceed with a new £4.5bn oil project west of the Shetland Islands.BP unveils Shetland investment programme https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15285441 BBC BBC News 13 October 2011 13 October 2011 19 October – Discovery of the Port an Eilean Mhòir boat burial, the UK mainland's first fully intact Viking ship burial site, at Ardnamurchan in the western Scottish Highlands, is announced.Ardnamurchan Viking boat burial discovery 'a first' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-15333852 BBC News 2011-10-19 2011-10-19 20 October – A BBC Scotland investigation claims to have uncovered evidence of alleged criminality in the past business dealings of the new owner of Rangers FC, Craig Whyte.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-15377454 'Criminality' claims over Rangers owner Craig Whyte BBC BBC News 20 October 2011 20 October 2011 25 October – Scottish gun crime falls to 32-year low.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-15445090 Scottish gun crime falls to 32-year low BBC BBC News 25 October 2011 25 October 2011 26 October – Labour MP Ian Davidson, chairman of the Scottish Affairs Select Committee apologises for 'any offence that might have been caused' after SNP MP Dr Eilidh Whiteford accused him of threatening that she would get "a doing" if discussions from a behind-closed-doors meeting of the committee were leaked to the media.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15459725 Labour MP Ian Davidson says sorry to select committee BBC BBC News 26 October 2011 26 October 2011 27 October – Edinburgh City Council vote to proceed with plans for a Gaelic school in the city.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-15486388 Go-ahead for Gaelic school in Edinburgh BBC BBC News 27 October 2011 27 October 2011 November 4 November – Newly elected MSP Ruth Davidson is announced as the new Leader of the Scottish Conservatives. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15580663 Ruth Davidson elected new Scottish Conservative leader BBC BBC News 4 November 2011 4 November 2011 6 November – A public opinion poll carried out for the BBC Politics Show indicates that devo-max was the most popular option with Scottish voters: 33% backed devo-max, 28% supported Scottish independence and 29% backed 'no further constitutional change'. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15610909 BBC survey indicates support for Scottish 'devo-max' BBC BBC News 6 November 2011 6 November 2011 10 November – Alex Salmond wins the Herald's Scottish Politician of the Year award. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/politics/salmond-crowned-scottish-politician-of-the-year-1.1134314 Salmond crowned Scottish politician of the year heraldscotland.com 11 November 2011 11 November 2011 17 November – Alex Salmond is named The Spectator magazine's 2011 politician of the year.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15767867 Alex Salmond wins Spectator's Politician of the Year BBC BBC News 17 November 2011 17 November 2011 21 November Stena Line ro-pax ferry MS Stena Caledonia makes the operator's final entry into the port of Stranraer on passage from Belfast. Her replacement, MS Stena Superfast VIII, makes the first sailing from Loch Ryan Port, Old House Point, Cairnryan. A pair of Euro Lottery winners donate £1m to the SNP independence campaign.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15817172 Euro Lottery win pair donate £1m to SNP independence bid BBC BBC News 21 November 2011 21 November 2011 30 November – Up to 300,000 public sector workers strike in Scotland over planned UK pension and job changes.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-15938970 Up to 300,000 public sector workers strike in Scotland BBC BBC News 30 November 2011 30 November 2011 December 4 December – Two giant pandas arrive in Edinburgh from China.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-16023328 Giant pandas arrive in Edinburgh from China BBC BBC News 4 December 2011 4 December 2011 8 December – Police tell people not to travel as winds of up to 165 mph (264 km/h) affect the country.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-16079849 Scotland storm blackout hitting thousands BBC BBC News 8 December 2011 10 December 2011 14 December – New laws to tackle religious hatred and bigotry related to football are passed by the Scottish Parliament.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16138683 Anti-bigot laws passed by the Scottish Parliament BBC BBC News 14 December 2011 14 December 2011 17 December – MSP Johann Lamont is elected as the new Scottish Labour leader and becomes the Leader of the Opposition.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-16217972 MSP Johann Lamont named new Scottish Labour leader BBC BBC News 17 December 2011 17 December 2011 22 December – For the first time, the Scottish Parliament votes to reject a Legislative Consent Motion, refusing to allow Westminster to apply parts of the Welfare Reform Bill to Scotland.http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/holyrood_s_defiance_could_deprive_needy_of_benefits_snp_told_1_2022326 Holyrood's defiance could deprive needy of benefits, SNP told Scott Macnab 23 December 2011 The Scotsman dead https://archive.today/20120910112546/http://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/holyrood_s_defiance_could_deprive_needy_of_benefits_snp_told_1_2022326 10 September 2012 Undated Amazon's largest UK distribution centre opens in Dunfermline.Secrets of Black Friday Metro London 2023-11-24 30 Deaths 4 January – Gerry Rafferty (born 1947), singer-songwriterGerry Rafferty dies at age of 63 BBC News, 4 December 2011 11 January – Kenneth Stevenson (born 1949), Bishop of Portsmouth 22 January – Chandos Blair (born 1919) General Officer Commanding Scotland (1972–76) 24 January – Alec Boden (born 1925), footballer 24 January – Phil Gallie (born 1939), Conservative & Unionist MP and MSPhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-12275637 Former Tory MSP Phil Gallie dies 25 January 2011 BBC News Scotland 25 January 2011 https://web.archive.org/web/20110125204500/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-12275637 25 January 2011 live 30 January – Ian R. Porteous (born 1930), mathematician 1 February – Len Fyfe (born 1941), Labour peer 1 February – Tom Jarvie (born 1916), footballer, veterinary surgeon and television personality 1 February – Derek Rawcliffe (born 1921), Bishop of Glasgow and Galloway (1981–1991) 10 February – Lynne Walker (born 1956), music and theatre critic 12 February – James Elliott (born 1928), theatre and television actor 21 February – Anne Mathams (born 1913), educationist and disability rights activist 22 February – Brian Bonsor (born 1926), composer and music teacher 10 March – Danny Paton (born 1936), footballer, who played for Heart Of Midlothian and Oxford United 11 March – David Brown (born 1941), international cricketer 13 March – Roy Flatt (born 1947), Dean of Argyll and the Isles (1999–2005) 31 March – Ishbel MacAskill (born 1941), singer 6 April – Jim Blair (born 1947), footballer 10 April – Jimmy Briggs (born 1937), footballer 11 April – Doug Newlands (born 1931), footballer 12 April – Ronnie Coyle (born 1964), footballer 20 April – Allan Brown (born 1926), football player and manager 28 April – Willie O'Neill (born 1940), footballer 30 April – Eddie Turnbull (born 1923), football player and manager 5 May – Tommy Wright (born 1928), footballer 7 May – Dougie McCracken (born 1964), footballer 9 May – David Cairns (born 1966), Labour MP 12 May – Noreen Murray (born 1935), professor of molecular genetics at the University of Edinburgh 14 May – Ernie Walker (born 1928), Scottish Football Association administrator 21 May – Gordon McLennan (born 1924), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Great Britain (1975–1990) 27 May – Janet Brown (born 1923), actress, comedian and impressionist 8 June – John Mackenzie (born 1928), film director 23 June – Ronnie McCluskey (born 1936), footballer 26 June – Alan Rodger, Baron Rodger of Earlsferry, Justice of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom 9 August – George Scott Wallace (born 1929), British Columbia physician and politician 23 November – Gerald Laing (born 1936 in England), pop artist and sculptor 5 December – Celia Whitelaw, Viscountess Whitelaw (born 1917), philanthropist The arts c.19 January – Liz Lochhead becomes the second Scots Makar, the official national poet of Scotlandhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12227515 Liz Lochhead confirmed as new Scots Makar 2011-01-19 BBC News 2011-01-19 1 September – Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama in Glasgow renamed as the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland September – Glasgow synth-pop band CHVRCHΞS is formed Kevin MacNeil's novel A Method Actor's Guide to Jekyll and Hyde is published See also Timeline of Scottish history 2011 in England 2011 in Northern Ireland 2011 in the United Kingdom 2011 in Wales References 30em collapsed 2011 Category:Years of the 21st century in Scotland Category:2010s in Scotland *Scotland Scotland